Stakeholders involved in the King and Queen of Mathematics Contest, an annual mathematics Quiz competition among secondary schools in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State say they are poised for a successful rendition of the 2022/2023 edition.

They equally praised the organizers, the G30 Ibani Voice, a socio-political pressure group in Rivers State for the initiative, which they described as strategic to amplifying the opportunities for academic excellence among secondary school students in the area.

This position was advanced on Friday, November 11, 2022, at a Stakeholders Meeting ahead of the kick-off of the 2022/2023 edition of the contest billed for December 1-3, 2022 at Government Girls Secondary School, Finima, Bonny, which will have all secondary schools in the LGA competing amongst themselves.  

The stakeholders include the principals, Mathematics teachers, and chairmen of the Parents/Teachers Associations of all the secondary schools in Bonny LGA.

Speaking at the meeting, the Director, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Bonny LGA, Samuel Jumbo, who was accompanied by the Zonal Director, Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board, Bonny Zone, Edward Kiri, commended the President, Dr Fubara Dan-Jumbo, and the entire leadership and members of the G30 Ibani Voice for conceptualizing such a competition, noting that it was a big boost and motivation for scholarship among children in the area.

In his speech, Principal of Lucille Education Centre (LEC), Esau Enyinna, whose school produced the current King of Mathematics, Nelson Bluejack, eulogised the organizers for coming up with a laudable contest which has continued to stimulate interest in Education, especially, Mathematics among students in the area, cautioning, however, that guidelines for the competition should articulated and adhered to.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) of Community Secondary School, Finima, Bonny, Vivian Brown, who is also a former Chairman of the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre (BIRC), described the contest as a boost for aspirations to academic excellence for children of the LGA, urging the organizers to sustain it, while appealing to the stakeholders to support the organizers in ensuring that the event holds successfully.

On his part, Chairman of the PTA of Kalviv International School, Waterwell Road, Bonny, Stephen Banigo, commended as apt and useful for inspiring the youths to take their academics seriously, suggesting to the organizers to ensure a level playing field for all participating students and also consider an upward review of the prize money for the winners in various categories, Maths teachers and respective schools of the winners.

On her part, Principal of Government Girls Secondary Schools, Finima, Bonny, Universal Basic Education (UBE) section, Christiana Ditubo praised the organizers for putting together such well thought-out competition, assuring that the contest would continue to get the right support from the school principals in the area.

In his speech at the event, Secretary General of G30 Ibani Voice, Godswill Hart thanked the stakeholders for their ongoing support for the competition, promising that their various suggestions would be given the necessary consideration with a view to optimizing the essence of the contest and improving on its deliverables.

Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of Kristina Reports, Godswill Jumbo, who is also the Chairman, Media/Publicity Subcommittee of the 2022/2023 edition of the contest, informed the attendees that the G30 Ibani Voice comprises of patriotic sons and daughters of Bonny Kingdom, who are out to give back to their community and prioritizes Education, with emphasis on Mathematics as a way of raising a new generation of professionals who would excel in diverse fields of endeavour.

In all 13 Secondary Schools were represented at the Stakeholders Meeting including Bonny National Grammar School (BNGS), Senior, Government Girls Secondary School, Finima (GGSSF) UBE, Government Girls Secondary School, Finima (GGSSF) Senior, Community Secondary School, Abalamabie, Bonny (CSS) UBE, Community Secondary School, Burukiri (CSS) UBE, Community Secondary School, Burukiri (CSS) Senior, Community Secondary School, Finima (CSS) Senior, Lucille Education Centre (LEC), Kalviv International School, Heaven On Earth Academy, Faith Academy Secondary School, Christ Redeemers Secondary School, and St. Patrick Secondary School.